What is the theme of World AIDS Day 2019?

World Aids Day is an international event observed worldwide on 1st December every year to raise public awareness about AIDS. AIDS is an abbreviation of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome and it is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

The First World AIDS Day was observed in the year 1988 and since then, every year; an international event is organized by the WHO (World Health Organization) to raise awareness among the people about this pandemic disease and mourning for those who have died due to this diseases.

In the year 1995, the President of the United States officially declared this day and after this, countries across the world started participating in this event.  The World AIDS Day has become the most recognized health day’s celebrations celebrated globally by government organizations, NGO, health bodies, civil societies, health officials, and it gives the key opportunity to all the stakeholders to conduct various programs like:

1. Conduct the awareness program in the School, Colleges, Office, etc.

2. Make people aware of HIV and various methods of prevention & control.

3. Conduct the speech and discussion forum to discuss all the information related to AIDS.

World Health Organization has marked eight global public health days and among the 8 days, world AIDS Day is one of them. The other seven days are World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World Hepatitis Day.

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Let us see the history of World AIDS DAY, the theme of World AIDS Day 2019, Theme of previous year AIDS Day, list of activities on this day, the importance of red ribbon and many more. 

WORLD AIDS DAY HISTORY

The first world AIDS Day was observed by the two public information officer namely Thomas Netter and James W. Bunn in August in 1987. They were the officials of the AIDS global program in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1987, when they visualized the idea of world Aids Day, then they shared their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann (Director of the AIDS Global Program). 

He approved the idea and recommended to celebrate this day on 1st of December. The director of the AIDS global program wanted to celebrate this day far from the Christmas holidays or the US election time so that media could pay all their attention to cover this day and broadcast the news across the world.

In the year 1996, the joined united national program on HIV/AIDS also known as UNAIDS came into existence and they started to promote this day globally. They urged the world to celebrate this day whole a year and in 1997, they also launched the World AIDS Campaign to focus on the AIDS programs, better communications, disease prevention, and disease awareness.

Initially, the world AIDS Day themes were mainly focusing on the children & young people which were later recognized as a family disease as any person of any age group can be infected with HIV.

OBJECTIVES OF WORLD AIDS DAY

As mentioned above, every year on 1st of December, we celebrate World AIDS Day and the primary objective behind the celebration of this day is to build effective health policies and programs towards HIV/AIDS.

Some of the major objectives of World AIDS day are as follows:

1. Support the member countries worldwide and guide them with the latest prevention and control measures of AIDS.

2. Conduct the seminar, speeches, discussion forum, etc. to spread awareness among people about the antiretroviral medicines or other commodities which can help them to fight against HIV/AIDS.

What is the theme of World AIDS Day 2019?

The theme of 2019 World Aids Day us is "Communities make the difference". The primary objective behind the selection of this theme is to give an opportunity to recognize the essential role of communities played in the society for spreading awareness and how the communities can continue to play the same role at the international, national & local levels. If we say communities, it means the inclusion of peer educators, counselors, community health workers, door-to-door service providers, civil society organizations and grass-roots activists.

Communities play a significant role in the AIDS response and they work in many different ways. They ensure that response remains relevant keeping people at the center and leaving no one behind.

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Why the World AIDS Day is Important

AIDS is one of the most important global public health issues. With reference to data published on Wikipedia, as of 2017, we have found two dangerous facts:

1. As per an estimate, a number in-between 28.9 million and 41.5 million people have been killed by AIDS.

2. Globally, more than 36.7 million people are living with HIV. 

3. Close to 1.9 million in 2005 and 1 million people have been decreased due to AIDS globally.

4. Approximately 25 million people died from 1981 to 2007 because of HIV infection.

Even after the access to antiretroviral treatment at many places in the world, more than 2 million people in 2007 were infected with this epidemic disease.

Details of Previous Year’s Theme of World Aids Day

The theme of 2019 World AIDS Day is "Communities make the difference". Here, is the detailed list of previous year themes on AIDS day.

• The theme for the 2018 World AIDS Day was “Know Your Status”.
• The theme for the World AIDS Day in the year 2011 to 2015 was “Zero for the New HIV Infections, No Discrimination, No Deaths due to HIV AIDS: Getting to Zero”.
• The theme for the World AIDS Day in the year 2010 was “Human Rights as well as Access Universally”.
• The theme for the World AIDS Day in the year 2009 was “Access Universally as well as Human Rights.”
• The theme for the 2008 World AIDS Day was “Stop the AIDS: Deliver – Empower – Promise and Lead.”
• The theme for the 2007 World AIDS Day was “Stop the AIDS: Keeping the Leadership as well as Promise.”
• The theme for the 2006 World AIDS Day was “Stop the AIDS: Keeping the Accountability and Promise.”
• The theme for the 2005 World AIDS Day was “Stop the AIDS: Keeping the Promise.”
• The theme for the World AIDS Day in the year 2004 was “Girl, Women, AIDS and HIV.”
• The theme for the 2003 World AIDS Day was “Discrimination as well as Stigma.”
• The theme for the World AIDS Day in the year 2002 was “Discrimination and the Stigma.”
• The theme for the 2001 World AIDS Day was “Do You Care?”
• The theme for the 2000 World AIDS Day was “Make a Difference Men: AIDS.”
• The theme for the 1999 World AIDS Day was “Campaigns of the World AIDS with the Young people and Children: Live, Learn and Listen.”
• The theme for the 1998 World AIDS Day was “Campaigns of the World AIDS with Young People: Change due to Force.”
• The theme for the 1997 World AIDS Day was “Every Children living with the AIDS in the World.”
• The theme for the 1996 World AIDS Day was “One Hope with One World.”
• The theme for the 1995 World AIDS Day was “Rights Sharing with Shared Duties.”
• The theme for the 1994 World AIDS Day was “Family with the AIDS.”
• The theme for the 1993 World AIDS Day was “React.”
• The theme for the 1992 World AIDS Day was “Commitment of the Committee.”
• The theme for the 1991 World AIDS Day was “Sharing the Challenge.”
• The theme for the 1990 World AIDS Day was “Women and AIDS”.
• The theme for the 1989 World AIDS Day was “Youth”.
• The theme for the 1988 World AIDS Day was “Communication”.

WORLD AIDS DAY ACTIVITIES

It is been already discussed above, among the top seven identified diseases by WHO, AIDS is one of them and with this point; you can understand the seriousness of this disease.  The only way to get rid of this disease is to spread awareness and make people aware of how it spreads and what are the precautions every individual must take before and after AIDS.  Several activities can be performed on this day to spread awareness and distribute the message of the theme of a particular year. It can be started from school, colleges, clinic, hospitals, social service agencies, AIDS advocacy groups and so on.

Importance of Wearing Red Ribbons on World AIDS Day 2019

People across the world wear Red It acts as a symbol of awareness and support. If you heard/celebrate about World AIDS Day then you must have noticed red ribbon wear by the individuals. This red ribbon shows as of symbol of awareness and support. As per UNAIDS, “the red ribbon is a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with HIV and their caregiver”. 

The other purposes of wearing a red ribbon on this day are as follows:

1. It shows the solidarity of society with the people living with HIV infection.

2. It also acts as a tribute to the people who lost their lives fighting this disease.

3. People also sell red ribbons to raise funds to provide support to the people who are battling with the disease.

4. The red ribbon can be freely used across the world to raise awareness as this is not a copyrighted image.

5. Wearing a red ribbon is the best way to raise awareness about AIDS and convince people to not discriminate people living with HIV. 

Slogans on World AIDS Day 2019

Some of the famous slogans on AIDS Day are as follows

1. “HIV/AIDS has no boundaries”.

2. “Small aids to individuals, large aid to masses”.

3. “Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS”.

4. “I know one man who was impotent who gave AIDS to his wife and the only thing they did was kiss”.

5. “If you judge people you have no time to love them”.

6. “The AIDS is a disease that is hard to talk about”.

7. “My son has died of AIDS”.

8. “Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me”.

9. “You can’t get AIDS from a hug or a handshake or a meal with a friend”.

10. “This AIDS stuff is pretty scary. I hope I don’t get it”.

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